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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 6 · Chapter 12: Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death

6.12.25 6.12.27-29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.12.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दोर्भ्यामुत्कृत्तमूलाभ्यां बभौ रक्तस्रवोऽसुर: ।

छिन्नपक्षो यथा गोत्र: खाद्भ्रष्टो वज्रिणा हत: ॥ २६ ॥

dorbhyām utkṛtta-mūlābhyāṁ

babhau rakta-sravo ’suraḥ

chinna-pakṣo yathā gotraḥ

khād bhraṣṭo vajriṇā hataḥ

Translation

Vṛtrāsura, bleeding profusely, his two arms cut off at their roots, looked very beautiful, like a flying mountain whose wings have been cut to pieces by Indra.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vṛtrāsura Resembles a Vast Wingless Mountain

1
Both of Vṛtrāsura’s arms had been cut off at their roots, and he was bleeding profusely.
2
The translation describes him as looking very beautiful, like a flying mountain whose wings Indra had cut to pieces.
3
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the verse indicates there are sometimes flying mountains whose wings Indra cuts with his thunderbolt. Vṛtrāsura’s huge body resembled such a mountain.

Key points from the purport

It appears from the statement of this verse that sometimes there are flying mountains and that their wings are cut by the thunderbolt of Indra.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Danger → Fearless longing. A seeming enemy reveals the heart of a great devotee.

Chapters 11–13 of Canto 6: Vṛtrāsura's prayers and final battle. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 12: Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This time Indra was more powerful, and he severed Vṛtrāsura’s remaining arm. Vṛtrāsura then assumed a gigantic form and swallowed King Indra, but Indra, being protected by the talisman known as Nārāyaṇa-kavaca, was able to protect himself even within Vṛtrāsura’s body.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.12